She was attached initially when Liam Neeson was slated to play Lincoln. But the 65-year-old says during an interview in Los Angeles that she had to persuade Spielberg all over again when he cast Day-Lewis after Neeson dropped out.

“I refused to give up,” admits Field, who showed Mary Todd Lincoln-like perseverance when she finally won the director over a second time.

Of course, the president’s wife was also deeply dysfunctional over the premature death of two young sons. Some historians have suggested she suffered from manic depression, as well.

But Field says that the First Lady had her husband’s respect and his ear, so she played her with the kind of feisty resilience the actress understands.

And while she admits she admires and respects Day-Lewis’ abilities as an actor, she focused on the task at hand. “I had no room for that,” she says of fawning over his talent.

On camera, Field says that she instilled a strength and determination in her character despite her flawed behavior.

“Mary is the one who would not put up with (attitude) from her husband or other politicians,” she says.

I am the Postmedia News movie writer and canada.com columnist. I prepare features and profiles stars of major motion pictures, including Robert Downey Jr., George Clooney, Brad Pitt, and Julia Roberts... read more. Previously, I was a movie writer for Postmedia's National Post. I was at the George Lucas farm near San Francisco to report on the last Star Wars picture, Revenge of the Sith. I was in New York for the first preview of Peter Jackson's King Kong remake. And I have been up close and personal with high profile A-listers such as Cameron Diaz, Matt Damon, Jennifer Aniston and many others. Before that, I was a sleep-deprived pop music writer and critic, a film writer and reviewer, and entertainment editor at the Toronto Sun. I also worked at CBC as a writer and producer, and was one of five writers selected to produce the script for the CBC's Canada For Asia live tsunami benefit broadcast in 2005.View author's profile